Shoulder brace



W. E. MARLAR SHOULDER BRACE Jan. 9, 1934.

Filed April 15. 1933 Nl E N 70/? W/LL/AM E MARLAR 19 A 7' TORNEV Patented Jan. 9,

UNI-TED STATES 4 Claims.

My invention relates to'improvements in shoulder braces used as'correctives for abnormal posture, and has for its objects-to provideianew an'd novel form of resilient brace frame providing an improved means of applying corrective pressure, an improved means of attachment of lacing, and a new and improved means of securing and maintaining the brace in position.

Shoulder braces heretofore devised have operated on the principle of straightening the upper part of the-spine and forthemostipart they bind the shoulders back, exert a forward pressure on the spine, and require a strap around the torso. All of this restricts body movement, and accomplishes its purpose by direct force only.

In my device a gentle pressure is persistently applied to the scapula: whenever the posture is stooped, the shoulders drooped forward, or otherwise abnormal.

I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan View of one of my braces, complete, wherein the left hand brace is shown without covering and the right hand brace frame is shown with covering and shoulder strap; and

Figure 2 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the device as worn and used.

The body of frame 1 of my brace is preferably made of sheet spring steel approximately one thirty second of an inch in thickness, but other similar suitable material may be used. The general contour of these frames is kidney shaped, and has a curved vertebral edge 2, a rounded lobe 3 at the bottom, and a comparatively straight armside edge 5 extending from point 4 to point 6 and set back a short distance from the armside extremity of lobe 3, and a comparatively straight top edge 7 shaped to parallel the top of the shoulder of the wearer.

Opening 8, cut in the lower portion of lobe 3, has a curved lower edge parallelling, for the most part, the lower edge 3, the contour of the vertebral edge 2, and extends upward forming the slot 9. This forms the scapula bar 10, the inner edge of which closely approximates the curve of the scapula of the wearer, and is designed to fit over the vertebral and lower edges of the scapula.

The vertical lace or eyelet bar 11 is formed between the slot and the rectangular opening 12 provide an opening thru which strap 16 may be looped and a slot 39 is out just above this to hold der of the wearer, and back under the armpit where it attaches to the armside bar 1 7 thru-ver-- tical slot 18,. and is adjustable 'by means ofbuckle 19. Slot 18 is positioned approximately five sevenths of the total height from the top 7 in all sizes. The top eyelet hole 21 is, in all sizes, positioned on the vertebral side of the upper part of the brace frame and above slot 9. Thus when cross-laced the upper part of the brace is firmly held over the acromial process of the wearer.

In the preceding paragraphs I have referred to the brace or brace frame as a unit. It is to be understood, however, that While each unit is itself a brace, two of these are worn in the manner shown in Figure 2, and this combination may also be termed a brace. The frames 1 may be worn either with or without covering, depending on the material used in its construction, and whether clothing is worn underneath. In use these brace frames are connected by lacing 20 which is normally cross-laced thru eyelets 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. It is to be noted that this lacing extends over scapula bar 10 which is sprung inwardly and thus embraces the contour of the scapulae. This holds the brace frames downward and in place. The pressure of the lace bar and other parts of frame on the scapula force it inward and this, in turn, tends to force the shoulders backward into the correct position. Yet free movement of the shoulders around the spine is not impeded.

Where deformities of the wearer require special or unusual corrective pressure, lacing may be extended thru eyelet holes 27, and 28 in cross-bar 35, 29 and 30 in bar 17, 31 and 32 in cross bar 36, or 33 and 34 in the scapula bar 10. The direction and extent of these special lacings depends on the peculiarities of the wearer in each case, but it is to be noted that the construction of my device permits this special lacing and provides an easy manner of this special adjustment and lacing.

In all cases the lacing at the back pulls against the shoulder straps 16 on the front on the shoulders while the gentle but persistent pressure of the brace frames on the scapulae constantly registers mentally any imperfect posture. When the correct posture, thus induced, is assumed the pressure of the brace is relieved and the chest elevated, consequently giving the wearer full lung capacity. This corrective pressure is, for the most part, exerted on a maximum of bony structure and a minimum of fleshy tissue, and this, together with the absence of any torso band permits all natural movement.

Having now described my invention and explained its use I wish to be limited only by the following claims,

I claim:

1. A shoulder brace comprising a frame member having a scapula bar curved to conform to the contour of the scapula of the wearer, an armside bar, a lace bar intermediate said scapula bar and said armside bar and attached at the bottom to the armside bar by a cross-bar, said scapula bar being attached to the frame at its upper and lower ends only. 7

2. A shoulder brace comprising a frame member of resilient material having a vertically extending armside bar joining cross-bars at the upper and lower portion of the frame, a vertical lace bar vertebrally positioned relative to said armside bar and attached to said cross bars, a scapula bar vertebrally positioned relatively thereto, and attached at its top to the cross-bar in the upper portion of said frame and curved der strap cross-bars at the upper portion of said frame paralleling the top of the shoulder of the wearer, and a shoulder strap slot in the armside bar approximately five sevenths of the total height from the top.

3. A shoulder brace comprising a pair of oppositely positioned brace frames as described in claim 2, a lacing extending across the vertebrae of the wearer connecting the lace bars of said frames and extending over the scapula bars thereof, and shoulder straps extending from the tops of said frames over the anterior portion of the shoulders under the armpits of the wearer and connecting with the arm-side bars of said frames at approximately five sevenths of the total height from the top thereof.

4. A shoulder brace comprising, in combination, a pair of oppositely positioned brace frames, a pair of shoulder straps, and a lacing inter-connecting said frames, said brace frames having vertical armside bars with slots to receive the lower ends of said shoulder straps positioned five sevenths of the total height from the top, curved scapula bars adapted to embrace the contour of the scapulze of the wearer, intermediately positioned lace bars, and an upper frame comprising cross-bars providing a means of attachment for the upper end of said shoulder straps, said lacing extending from the body part of said frames across the acromial process of the wearer at the top and over the scapula bars below the top lacing whereby said scapula bars are forced anteriorly.

WILLIAM E. MARLAR.

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